Armenia: Development
Davit Lokian
Minister of Agriculture of Armenia
Dear readers,
Between July 18 and 25, 2005, you had an opportunity to address your
questions on the Yerkir’s website to DAVIT LOKIAN, Minister of
Agriculture of Armenia.
Below are the answers to your questions. See the full version of the
interview in Armenian.
Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
editor-in-chief of “Yerkir” Weekly.
Mrav – Dear Mr Minister. For 2 years now, thanks God, all the dams of
Armenia are full of water. Specially the Akhourian dam. But most
villagers in dry Aragatsotn do not have the water on time, and the
employees of water administration prefer to let the water go to the
Turks, rather than to giveto the peasants. Same thing was reported in
the Tchoghas dam basin recently. Why can’t we fix this existential
question? Do you have new irrigation plans for Shirak, Aragatsotn dry
lands?
Davit Lokian – Thank you for appreciating the work that has been done
in the past two years. However, there are still lands where we have
problems. Thatis why the government is directing $170 million to
fixing the irrigation system. The Aragatsotn and Shirak regions are
included in the Millennium Challenge program of the US
government. Besides, the Armenian government in cooperation with the
World Bank is implementing local projects in Gehgarkunik, Shirak,
Aragatsotn and Lori regions. I believe the irrigation problem will be
wholly resolved in Armenia in the coming 3-4 years. The water we lose
because we give it to neighbors will be much less since it is going to
stay in the reservoirs currently under construction or directed to the
irrigation system.
Eric – You worked as a Minister of Urban Development for couple of
years before being nominated as a Minister of Agriculture of
Armenia. In both cases you did not have any experience in the fields
you were/are in charge of. What if next time Dashnaktsutyun party
receives a vacant post of the Minister of Health or the Minister of
the Education? Will you agree to become a Minister in one of those
Ministries? Do not you think one should know what he/she does before
seating on a ministerial chair and expect foreign consultants to
literate them in the work they were supposed to know before agreeing
on the Ministerial posts? Do not you think that appointment of
`strangers in the fields’ as Ministers in current Government holds
back the development of Armenian economy? Unfortunately, there are
many cases of `strangers’ occupying the ministerial chairs in the
current Government, don’t you think. Anyways, I will appreciate your
honest and open answer. Thanks
Davit Lokian – Let me state first that the Ministry of Health is
headed by one of our party members; the Ministry of Education was
headed in the past by Levon Mkrtchian. I have no much of a desire to
change ministries but if there are serious problems in a ministry in
terms of governance or clarifying of general principles and when the
government and my party had deemed necessary, I have tried to work and
resolve the problems. It is the head of the country and my party
comrades that are to evaluate my performance. Eric, let me assure you
that I have no intention to head the Education or Health Ministries. I
suggest we could meet if Eric finds it possible to understand what his
criteria are when evaluating a minister’s performance, and how much he
knows about the ministers’ work.
Vazgen – Is it true that the Lebanon-based branch of the ARF has
rejected the socialist doctrine and instead endorsed capitalism? if I
am not mistaken, that’s the largest branch of the ARF and so why is
the ARF a member of the socialist international?
Davit Lokian – I am not aware, and I believe that no such thing is
possible.
See the full version of the interview in Armenian.

BOARD OF CBA DECIDES TO REDUCE ANNUAL INTEREST RATE ON REPO CONTRACTS
FROM 3.75% TO 3%
YEREVAN, June 13. /ARKA/. The Board of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) decided to reduce the annual interest rate on REPO contracts
from 3.75% to 3%, the press-service of the CBA reports. The annual
interest rate on the attracted deposits was also reduced from 1.75% to
1%. The interest rates on Lombard credits were not unchanged (16%
annually). A.A. -0–

D. VANYAN: LAST “BAZE” FESTIVAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO UNITY OF ARMENIAN YOUTH
YEREVAN, August 9. /ARKA/. The last “Baze” Festival will contribute to
the unity of the Armenian youth, member of the NKR “KWN” Association,
participant in the “Baze” Festival from Karabakh David Vanyan told
ARKA News Agency. He said that about 2,000 young Armenians have
participated in “Baze” Festival, including a 15-member delegation from
Nagorno Karabakh.
Artsakh in this Festival was represented by the “Hayki Serund”
(“Generation of Hayk”) organization. Various round tables on the youth
policy and issues of uniting the Armenian youth of the world were
organized during this Festival. Song and dance contests, visits to
the Holy See of Echmiadzin, Khor Virap, Tsitsernakaberd and Yerablur
were also organized during the “Baze” festival. A.A.
-0–

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT SVERDLOVSK REGION AUGUST 22
09.08.2005 07:50
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ August 22-24, 2005 a delegation of Ararat region of
Armenia headed by Governor Alik Sargsyan will visit the Ural capital.
The guests will meet with representatives of the Sverdlovsk region
Government to discuss prospects of cooperation between the regions.
Armenians will also visit Pervouralsk. According to the Press Service
of Pervouralsk Administration, they will get acquainted with town
infrastructure, as well as will visit Pervouralsk New Pipe Factory
Public Corporation and Europe-Asia Border memorial, reported IA
Regnum.

TURKISH PRESS ACCUSES FRANCE IN LYING IN ARMENIAN ISSUE
09.08.2005 08:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish press accuses France in lying and asserts
the country that comes against Turkey’s accession to the EU «lies to
the world in the issue of the Armenian Genocide.» According to the
Zaman newspaper writes that there are documents in French sources
allegedly proving the opposite «just Armenians had organized massacre
of thousands of Muslims in Ottoman Turkey.» Naturally, the newspaper
does not cite any facts.

EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO ARMENIAN DIPLOMAT OPENS IN ROMANIA
09.08.2005 03:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday an exhibition devoted to famous Armenian
Romanian merchant of 18-19th centuries, diplomat, political figure
Manuk bey Mirzayan opened in Bucharest City Museum, reported the Press
Service of the Armenian MFA. Manuk bey is a famous person in
Romania. His activities actively displayed during the Russian-Turkish
war in 1806-1912. He was awarded noble titles, state ranks on behalf
of the Russian and Ottoman Empires. Using his ties, Manuk bey played
an important role in the Russian-Turkish talks as a mediator and the
Russian-Turkish peace treaty was signed in his estate in 1812. The
Bucharest City Museum Director, Armenian Ambassador in Romania,
Romanian Senate member, Chairman of the Armenian Union of Romania and
others addressed the opening ceremony. The exhibition to last a year
presents documents of Manuk bey, handwritten documents, everyday life
items, as well as clothes and other things. The Museum has also
published a book about Manuk bey Mirzayan’s activities.

DENMARK DOUBTS PROSPECTS OF TURKISH ACCESSION TO EU
09.08.2005 06:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen doubts
prospects of Turkey’s accession to the EU. At the latest congress of
the Liberal Party of Denmark, headed by him, the PM stated it was not
necessary for Turkey to bean EU member equally as the EU countries. He
spoke in favor of EU partners to hold discussion over EU enlargement.
«If the EU is too large, it will collapse,» he said. Heads of EU
countries and governments have determined October 3 as the day for
start of talks over Turkey’s accession to the EU.

TRIAL OF TURKISH SCHOLAR BEGAN IN YEREVAN
09.08.2005 04:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish scholar indicted for smuggling stated he
did not deliberately violate any law of the Republic of Armenia. This
statementof Yektan Turkyilmaz addressed to the society and
law-enforcement bodies was conveyed by her mother when, having visited
her son yesterday, she met with journalists. Gulsin Turkyilmaz stated
her son did not plead guilty, as he did not know there are laws of
that kind in Armenia. It should be reminded that passenger of
Yerevan-Istanbul flight, Turkish citizen Yektan Turkyilmaz was taken
into custody at Zvartnots Armenian airport. 88 books of 17-20
centuries were discovered in his luggage and license was necessary to
take 7 books out of the country, while he did not have it. Yektan
Turkyilmaz is Istanbul resident and is a Duke University (North
Carolina) Ph.D. His «interest» toward the culture of Armenia is
diverse. He tried to take away medical books and literature, as well
as books on history, geography and the formation of traditional
parties in Armenia. In case of being recognized guilty, the Turkish
scholar will face 4-8 years of imprisonment. The trial starts
today. Turkish authorities are aware of the incident, however they
undertake nothing, Mrs. Turkyilmaz said. It should be taken into
account that Yektan Turkyilmaz is for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. However, in his lawyer Vardui Elbakyan’s words, there are
apprehensions that in case of being released and return to Turkey,
proceedings may be instituted against him there, reported Armenpress.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVES OUTGOING INDIAN AMBASSADOR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian received today the outgoing Indian ambassador to Armenia
Deepak Vohra who ended his mission in Armenia.
The governmental press service said during the meeting the prime
minister thanked the ambassador for his effective work and wished
success in his further mission. On his part, the ambassador noted that
it was great honor for him to work in Armenia and he leaves the
country full of great impressions and memories.
He said that his next mission will be in Sudan and he has already
managed to find information about the local Armenian community and is
going to establish close relations with its representatives. The
ambassador thanked the Armenian government and prime minister for
supporting him during his mission.

MARGARYAN MET WITH INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, COMPLETING SERVICE
09.08.2005 08:22
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan met with
Indian Ambassador to Armenia Dipak Vohra, who is completing his
diplomatic service in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the
Armenian Government. Margaryan thanked the Ambassador for joint
efficient work and wished him good luck in further activities. Dipak
Vohra noted that he was honored with work in Armenia and he leaves
with nice impressions and memories. He said he will continue
diplomatic service in Sudan and has already found information on the
Armenian community and plans to establish firm relations with the
Armenians of Sudan. The Indian diplomat thanked the Armenian
Government and the PM for assistance in the course of his work in
Armenia.